Updated May 31, 2026 09:40AM
Giro d'Italia Women Stage 2: Elisa Balsamo Proves She Belongs in Pink
A day after Lorena Wiebes was kicked out of the Giro d'Italia, Italian star Balsamo delivers victory to prove she deserves the pink jersey.
Balsamo celebrates victory in stage 2 at the Giro d'Italia Women. (Photo: Luc Claessen)
Elisa Balsamo powered to a sprint victory in stage 2 on Sunday at the Giro d’Italia Women to win in the pink jersey a day after the race descended into controversy.
Balsamo started in pink after Lorena Wiebes was kicked out of the race after the race jury said her bike was too light in a controversial decision that rocked the race after Saturday’s opening stage.
Balsamo inherited the pink jersey, and was determined to win Sunday to prove she deserved it.
“It’s amazing and I am so happy, especially in the last two weeks, I was waiting for this win so much,” Balsamo said. “I did a really good sprint. It was an amazing day. I was completely focused on the finish line.”
Chiara Consonni (Canyon-SRAM) and Lara Gillespie (UAE Team ADQ) rounded out the top 3.
The 156km second stage from Roncade to Caorle featured a Cat. 4 climb midway through the profile, but was otherwise mostly flat rolling terrain.
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Several riders pulled clear early, and three held a 2:15 gap with 33km to go when the main bunch finally woke up from its collective siesta.
In the break were Eleonora Bella, Sara Lucon, and Elisa Vallier, who started just 10 seconds outside of pink. The gap quickly fell to under a minute with 20km to go to set up the bunch kick.
Wiebes shocker rocks the Giro
The stage started in the aftermath of Saturday’s stunning decision to kick out stage-winner Lorena Wiebes for a bike that the UCI race jury said was under the allowed 6.8kg weight.
Wiebes won the sprint and snatched the pink jersey, but was later disqualified for having a bike that weighed about 20 grams under the allowed weight limit, according to the race jury.
SD Worx-ProTime was obviously upset, and promised legal action, but pushed on in the race.
Elisa Balsamo (Lidl-Trek), second to Wiebes, was promoted to the pink jersey and she raced in the jersey in Sunday’s stage.
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“Of course, this is not the way I would have wanted to win, but this is the decision of the jury,” Balsamo said Saturday. “It is always honor to wear the pink jersey and I am looking forward to defending it.”
The 37th edition of the Giro women’s race continues with the 156km third stage from Bibione to Buja. The stage features two climbs, including a short but steep Cat. 3 with about 20km to go that could break up the bunch.